Scottie Barnes took home Rookie of the Year honors after showing off his skills for a resurgent Raptors team in 2021-22.
He did so while fending off a particularly strong rookie class, and is one of three players to receive the maximum of 100 first-place votes for the All-Rookie first team along with Detroit’s Cade Cunningham and Cleveland’s Evan Mobley.
Barnes averaged 15.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game after starting 74 regular-season games for Toronto.
Here’s a rundown with five of the best Scottie Barnes rookie cards, as interest is beginning to heat up.
The Best Scottie Barnes Rookie Cards
Scottie Barnes rookie cards were released during the 2021-22 season. Drafted fourth overall, there are hundreds of options when accounting for parallels.
5. 2021 Donruss Scottie Barnes RC #236 (eBay)
Take 2021-22 Donruss Basketball. There are 25 base parallels, and that’s without accounting for the Rated Rookie Signatures set seen above. We’d stick with the signed version if possible, even if it only comes with a stickered autograph.
They’re still some of the more popular Barnes cards overall, while they come with a finish that is easily damaged. This places a premium on graded copies from the likes of PSA.
- Parallels: Green Ice
- Choice Parallels: Base, Red #/99, Blue #/49, Gold #/10, Black Gold #/8, Black 1/1
- Holo Laser Parallels: Light Blue, Orange, Pink, Red/Gold, Teal, Yellow, Base #/99, Red #/49, Blue #/25, Red/Blue #/20, Purple #/15, Gold #/10, Black 1/1
Check prices of Scottie Barnes 2021 Donruss Rated Rookie cards on eBay
4. 2021-22 Panini Origins Scottie Barnes RC #IK-BAR (eBay)
Next up is a card found in 2021-22 Panini Origins. The Origins Autographs Silver Ink subset features an eye-catching Barnes RC.
Base copies are limited to 99, with a large on-card auto penned in silver. There’s also a rare Gold Ink parallel, and a one of one version that I haven’t seen on the market so far.
Copies are now being redeemed, and have started making their way onto sites like eBay as of May 2022. Overall, we think it’s an underrated option.
- Parallels: Gold Ink #/10, Gold Ink Inscriptions 1/1
Check prices of Scottie Barnes 2021 Panini Origins cards on eBay
3. 2021-22 Donruss Next Day Autograph Scottie Barnes RC #ND-SBN (eBay)
Barnes’ Next Day Autographs insert is found in 2021-22 Donruss Basketball. It’s proven to be another popular option if you’re looking at signed RCs.
They’re called Next Day Autos because the cards were originally mass-signed at a rookie photoshoot so they could be made available for release the following day.
They’ve been included in Donruss Basketball sets since 2016-17, and they’re some of the earliest pro cards you’ll be able to find.
Check prices of Scottie Barnes 2021 Donruss Next Day Auto cards on eBay
2. 2021-22 Panini Instant Cunningham/Green/Barnes/Suggs RC #RPS14 (eBay)
What about a quad autograph card featuring four of the best rookies from 2021-22? Barnes is joined by Cade Cunningham, Draymond Green, and Jalen Suggs in this Panini Instant release.
If you’d prefer to stick with Barnes alone we’ve listed another great option below, but it’s hard to deny the investment potential with this card given the star power on display. As with all rookie investments, it depends on how you think they’ll perform in the future.
Check prices of Scottie Barnes 2021 Panini Instant Quad Auto cards on eBay
1. 2021-22 Contenders Scottie Barnes RC #104 (eBay)
Arguably the best Scottie Barnes rookie card overall, 2021-22 Contenders offers hard-signed options in a popular format.
The set follows a traditional Rookie Ticket design, and comes with a handful of themed parallels. There’s also a photo variation, which can be identified as they have a white “V” inside a black circle on the back of the card. We’ve circled an example below.
- Ticket Parallels: Clear, Playoff #/99, The Finals #/49, Cracked Ice #/25, Championship 1/1
- Premium Edition Ticket Parallels: Base Premium Edition, Green Shimmer, Blue Shimmer FOTL #/20, Gold #/10, Red Shimmer FOTL #/5, Gold Shimmer FOTL 1/1, Gold Vinyl 1/1
Check prices of Scottie Barnes 2021 Contenders Rookie Ticket cards on eBay
Scottie Barnes Rookie Cards: Buyers Guide
What does the market look like for Scottie Barnes rookie cards at the moment? Here are our thoughts.
There are so many Barnes RCs to choose from, with something available at every price point. This ranges from the rarer options seen above, to base copies that will always be more affordable. For example, PSA 10 copies of the base 2021-22 Panini Donruss Scottie Barnes RC should be attainable for most investors. Otherwise, ungraded copies are typically cheaper.
The best investment piece out of the options mentioned above is arguably the 2021-22 Contenders RC. It’s already selling for a considerable sum, so it might be worth waiting until the off-season.
Final Thoughts
Barnes became the first rookie in Raptors history to record at least 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 250 assists in a season. He’s definitely one to watch, although current card prices are fairly high.
He came on strong to secure his Rookie of the Year win, although it only adds to the weight of expectation placed on his shoulders in the future.
If you think that Barnes will continue to supply the goods, investing in his best RCs is a no-brainer.